Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Recent IELTS Exams (Canada & India) · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that old buildings, such as town halls and art galleries, should be restored, even though this can be costly. Others argue that governments should replace them with new, modern buildings.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

People have different views about whether the old buildings such as the town halls and art galleries should be restored, however, they can cost big sums of money. While some argue that the government should build new modern buildings in place of them. This essay will examine both perspectives before explaining my viewpoint.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why people support the idea of restoring the old buildings even though it is very costly. The primary reason is that they think it as the part of their history and should be restored for the future generations to witness. This means that it can affect tourism as well as it can bind the future generations to its roots. Therefore, these people support such a viewpoint.

On the other hand, others argue that these buildings should be transformed to the new modern landscapes. One major reason for such a viewpoint is the modern day need. These people think new buildings bring new opportunities for people. For example, a new building can be used for accommodation which can help with the housing crisis. Moreover, it can be home for new shops or complexes which can help in the economy.

In conclusion, both views have valid points. However, I believe that the old buildings should be restored as they demonstrate the part of a history and culture of that particular place. Furthermore, the high costs of restoration can be covered as these places can work as a tourist attraction and tourism has always benefitted an economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the 'housing crisis' is a relevant point, but it lacks specific elaboration or a concrete example to fully support the claim. The response covers all parts of the prompt, but the discussion remains at a general level. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or specific real-world examples to demonstrate a deeper engagement with the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as in the sentence 'This means that it can affect tourism', where the antecedent of 'it' is slightly ambiguous. Overall, the flow of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'witness' and 'landscapes', though some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'transformed to the new modern landscapes' instead of 'replaced by modern structures'. The phrase 'big sums of money' is quite informal for an academic essay. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is consistently clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'they think it as the part of their history' (should be 'think of it as part of history') and 'demonstrate the part of a history' (should be 'demonstrate part of the history'). There are also minor issues with article usage and prepositions throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy is recommended.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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